The Jamesburg Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the position of board chair, board vice chair, board secretary and board finance officer.

Nominations will be accepted via e-mail to Bernie Long at bernielong890@hotmail.com through Sept. 8, and in person at the general meeting Sept. 11. Once elected, board members will have the option to appoint officers. If officers are not appointed, the board will assume the duties of both the board and officer positions.

For more information, call the Chamber at (732) 521-2222, ext. 112.

The Jacqueline M. and Robert N. Wilentz Cancer Center at Raritan Bay Medical Center, Old Bridge and Perth Amboy, will offer a support group meeting for individuals with cancer from 6-7 p.m. on Aug. 28 in Auxiliary Hall B, lower level of the Medical Arts Building, adjacent to the hospital's Old Bridge division, off Ferry Road, between routes 9 and 18.

The meeting will provide a supportive environment where concerns and anxieties can be explored and coping skills enhanced. Medical and educational topics also will be addressed.

Registration is required.

For more information and to register, call (732) 360-1000, ext. 5230, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays-Fridays.

Program on D&R Canal at library Aug. 17

Spotswood Public Library, 548 Main St., will present a program on the Delaware & Raritan (D&R) Canal by Linda Barth Aug. 17 at 7 p.m.

Barth will discuss the historic importance of the 170 D&R Canal. She is a past board member of the Canal Society of New Jersey, and grew up in the canal town of South Bound Brook. She and her husband also led canal tours throughout the northeast. Following the program, the winner of the "Summer by the Sea" gift basket will be drawn.

The program is free and open to the public, but reservations are recommended. Refreshments will be served. For reservations, call the library at (732) 251-1515.

Special-ed panel to host Sept. 6 public meeting

The Special Education PTA (SEPTA) of South River will sponsor a free public meeting from 7-9 p.m. on Sept. 6 at the South River Public Library, 55 Appleby Ave.

Topics will be the various programs and services that SEPTA offers to parents and children and an overview of the year's upcoming events. The meeting is open to the public. Children are always welcome with their parents/guardians.

All registered adults who attend the meeting will receive a free copy of SEPTA's "Parent Resource Guide and Special Education Resource" CD-ROM and supplies and instructions on how to start and maintain a child's educational folder at home.

For more information and to reserve, call (732) 651-7157 or e-mail SRPTAAdvocate@verizon.net by Sept. 1.

Diocese will offer Bible-study training

The Diocese of Metuchen Office of Evangelization will sponsor a nine-month Bible-study training course, "Prepare to Lead," in English and Spanish, beginning in September.

The course will be offered according to the following schedule:

+ Sacred Heart Church, 531 Washington Ave., South Amboy - in English, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on the second Saturday of each month;

+ St. Patrick Church, 327 Greenwich St., Belvidere - in English, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., third Saturday of the month;

+ Immaculate Conception Church, 316 Old Allerton Road, Clinton - in English, 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., third Saturday of the month;

+ St. John the Baptist, 29 Abeel St., New Brunswick - in Spanish, 7-9 p.m., second and fourth Mondays of the month;

+ Corpus Christi Church, 100 James St., South River - in Spanish, 8-10 p.m., first and third Fridays of the month;

+ Our Lady of Fatima, 380 Smith St., Perth Amboy - in Spanish, 7-9 p.m., second and fourth Fridays of the month.

The course will provide a basic introduction to the Scriptures for individuals who want to better understand the Bible and who may wish to lead future Bible studies.

Participants will receive certification upon completion of the course. Fee for course materials is $25.

For more information and to register, call (732) 562-2469 or log on to www.diometuchen.org.

St. Mary's Parish accepting RCIA signups

St. Mary's Parish, South Amboy, is accepting registration for any adult (age 14 or older) who is interested in preparing for Baptism, First Communion or Confirmation.

The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) begins with several weeks of inquiry sessions. Joined by team members and supported by the parish community, participants will go through the scriptures and learn more about the Catholic faith and tradition. No prior knowledge of the Bible is necessary. Sessions will be held on Sundays. This will be the only preparation available for adults this year. Catholics must have received the three sacraments (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) in order to serve as godparents or sponsors.

The program is designed for individuals who are interested in joining the Catholic Church and for Catholics who have not yet celebrated First Holy Communion and/or Confirmation.

Call Susette Lucarello at (732) 525-0141 to register or for more information.

Blood drive planned for Aug. 19 at Society Hill

The Blood Center of New Jersey will sponsor a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 19 in the Society Hill Clubhouse, 400 Thames Drive, Old Bridge.

There is a critical shortage of blood types O positive, O negative, A positive, A negative and B negative.

All donors will receive a free cholesterol test. A free continental breakfast, cookies and treats, coffee, tea and juice will be served.

Donors must be at least 18 years of age; 17-year-olds need parental permission. Participants must present a driver's license or other photo identification and know their Social Security number. Individuals may donate blood every 56 days.

For information on donor qualifications or the donation process, call the Blood Center of New Jersey at (800) NJ-BLOOD. For directions to the clubhouse, call (732) 679-5827.

Vendors sought for Monroe Township fair

The Monroe Township Mother's Club and Monroe Township Recreation Department are seeking vendors for the 18th annual Monroe Township country fair Sept. 10 from noon to 6 p.m. at Thompson Park in Jamesburg/Monroe Township.

The event will include an official opening by Mayor Richard Pucci, the Monroe Township Police Department Color Guard, D.J. Wacky Wayne, various foods, games, a 50/50, contests, crafts, a petting zoo, pony rides and other activities. For vendor registration or information, call Marguerite at (732) 251-3566 or the community center at (732) 723-5000.

Open house at Etz Chaim slated for Aug. 27

Congregation Etz Chaim Monroe Township Jewish Center, 11 Cornell Ave., will hold an open house Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to noon for prospective members.

Attendees may learn about temple programs and Hebrew school from Rabbi Benjamin Levy during brunch.

For more information, call the temple at (732) 51-1119.

E-mail notification sign-up under way at library

The East Brunswick Library, 2 Jean Walling Civic Center, is holding e-mail notification through Sept. 15.

Patrons registering to receive request and overdue notices via e-mail will be rewarded with a gift certificate for a free rental of a DVD, video game, software title, or rental book (book may be borrowed up to seven days). Certificates are good through Dec. 31.

The library will feature dolls from the collection of Alla Gordina, M.D., East Brunswick, in its glass showcases Sept. 1-28, and photos by member of the Raritan Photographic Society on the adult area walls Sept. 1-30. The children's display cases will feature postcards from the collection of Molly Thorp. Gordina's dolls represent physicians tending to patients and are made from wood, metal, fine porcelain, clay, plastic and cloth. The Photographic Club cosponsors East Brunswick's annual photo contest for adults. Molly Thorp has collected postcards since she was a toddler.

The library will be closed Sept. 2-4 in observance of Labor Day, and will resume Sunday hours of 1-5 p.m. after Sept. 10. The library's municipal access cable TV station EBTV-Channel 3 will present new episodes of "Encore E.B. Sports" monthly beginning Sept. 3. The show will be the first East Brunswick High School (EBHS) football game ever taped by EBTV - EBHS vs. Madison Central High School from Sept. 22, 1984.

For more information, stop by the circulation desk or call circulation at (732) 390-6950.

Kiddie Olympics on tap at Spotswood preschool

Kiddie Academy of Spotswood, 410 Main St., will hold a Kiddie Olympics beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 22. Youngsters, from infancy-age 10, are invited to participate.

The event will feature games, races and snacks. For more information and to reserve a space, call (732) 251-2686.

Paris to speak at business seminar

1st Constitution Bank will host a free business seminar, "Strategic Thinking and Business Planning," with Milton J. Paris of Paradigm Associates, from 8-9:30 a.m. on Aug. 23 at 1st Constitution Bank, 2650 Route 130 and Dey Road, Cranbury. Networking will take place 8:30-9:30 a.m. Business owners, executives, managers, supervisors, entrepreneurs, presidents, etc., are invited to attend.

Paris is a sales coach, business management and marketing consultant, and host and producer of the WCTC-AM Radio program "Getting Ahead in Business."

Seating is limited. Refreshments will be served. Participants also will receive a free one-hour consultation with Paris at their place of business.

For more information and to reserve, call Melanie Grub at (732) 605-0413 by Aug. 21.

Copies of Hadassah cookbook now available

East Windsor Hadassah is now selling copies of its cookbook "Recipes to Remember" at Pickwick Gift Store, East Windsor Town Center Mall. The store proprietor is not taking a percentage of the profit.

Books are $12 each, with pproceeds benefiting Hadassah projects in the United States and Israel. Many recipes are heirlooms from members' grandmothers and great-grandmothers from Europe and Asia.

For more information, call (609) 655-3609.

Residents to discuss Ford Ave. plans tonight

Milltowners for a Sensible Ford Avenue Redevelopment and Edison Wetlands Association (EWA) will hold a public meeting tonight to discuss plans for the cleanup and redevelopment of the Ford Avenue property in Milltown. The meeting will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the American Legion Building, at JFK Drive and Washington Avenue.

The site contains numerous buildings from the former Michelin Tire Co. complex. Charlie Jegou, president of the citizens' group Milltowners for a Sensible Ford Avenue Redevelopment, will be joined by state and federal environmental representatives, along with EWA Executive Director Robert Spiegel and engineer Richard Chapin.

Milltowners for a Sensible Ford Avenue Redevelopment was organized in March 2005 to raise concerns regarding the borough's redevelopment plans.

Volunteers sought for Rutgers anxiety study

The Rutgers University Anxiety Research Lab, Rutgers University Psychology Department, New Brunswick, is seeking adults who are at least 60 years old; are able to complete a two-hour assessment at Rutgers; can read, speak and write in English; are not color blind; are right-handed; have no known brain disease or terminal illness; have no current or history of mood or psychiatric problems.

Participants in the assessment will be paid $20 for completing the tasks.

For more information, interested individuals should call the lab at (732) 445-1413, press 2 after the tone, and leave their name and telephone number.